Washing-machine.



No. 675,305. Patented May 28, I90l. H. F. &. R. H. STAGGS.

WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 9, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES A TTOHNE )"S Patented May 2a, 1961.

H. F. &. B.,H. STAGGS.

WASHING. MACHINE.

(Apphcatnon filed July 9 1900 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

IN VE N TOHJ WITNESSES 1': adam: FETERI 0a.. wropmo" wuumam. B c.

' ment with parts in section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. STAGGS AND ROBERT H. STAGGS, OF MCKINNEY, TEXAS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,305, dated May 28,1901.

Application filed July 9, 1900. Serial No. 22,986. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY FRANKLIN v STAGGS and ROBERT HARRIS STAGGS,citizens of the United States, and residents of McKinney, in the countyof Collin and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Washing-Machine, of which the followingis afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedwashing-machine arranged for use on any kind of tub and adapted toinsure a perfect uniform washing of all the clothes in the tub by theuse of yieldinglymounted pounders, which intermittently change theirposition relatively to the clothes under treatment.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then. pointed outin the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the improve- Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional front view of the support forthe side pounders and the central pounder-rod. Fig. 4 is a reduced sideelevation of the improvement, showing the washing-machine out of action.Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the central pounder-rod and adjacentparts with the lever in cross-section, and Fig. 6 is a detail Viewillustrating the central pounder-rod in its relation to the lever.

The washbench A is adapted to support an ordinary tub B, into whichextend atmospheric pounders O 0 C of which the pounder C is centrallylocated relatively to the tub B, and the pounders O C are arranged onopposite sides of the central pounder 0. Each of the pounders is made ininverted-cup shape and has a horizontal partition 0 with aperturesopening into an upper compartment, from which lead apertures O to theoutside. The central pounder O has an up-and-down reciprocatingmovement,while the side pounders C C have a similar reciprocatingmovement, but at the same time turn around the central pounder C. Forthis purpose the following mechanism is provided:

The central pounder C is secured on the lower end of a rod D, extendingloosely through a tube E, fixed on the cross-bar F of a swinging frameF, fulcrumed on a rod F carried on the upper ends of standards F erectedon the washbench A. The swinging frame F is held in a horizontalposition either forward over the washbench A, as shown in Fig. 1, orrearward at one side of the washbench, as indicated in Fig. 4, by meansof braces F pivoted to the frame and having a connecting-bar F extendingthrough elongated slots F in the standards F By this arrangement theswinging frame can be moved by the operator into either of the positionsmentioned and shown and supported by the braces F in the desiredposition.

The side pounders C O are secured on rods G, fitted to slide verticallyin a support H, having a hub H mounted to turn in a crosshead H fittedto slide verticallyin guideways F depending from the swinging frame F,as indicated in the drawings. Each rod G, with its pounder O or 0 ispressed on by a spring G, one end of which rests on a collar G securedto the rod G, the other end of the spring abutting against the underside of the support H. A collar G is adjustably held on the upper end ofthe rod G by means of a pin G extending through the collar and throughone of a series of apertures G formed in the rod, so that the saidcollar G normally rests on the top of the support H; but when the lattermoves downward, as hereinafter more fully described, and the pounder Oor 0 comes in contact with the clothes in the tub B then the rod G isfree to slide upward in the support H against the tension of the springG, while the support H proceeds farther downward in the tub. When thesupport H recedes or moves in an upward direction, then the spring Gagain moves the rod G and its pounder into a lowermost positionrelatively to the support H.

In order to give a reciprocating motion to the support H and the sidepounders 0 0 carried thereby, and to impart a like motion to the centralpounder C and to allow the latter to yield, the following, device isprovided: On the upper end of the rod D is adjustably secured a sleeve Dby means of a pin D passing transversely through the sleeve and throughone of a series of apertures D in the rod, as is plainly shown in Fig.5. The sleeve D is threaded at its upper end and on the latter screws anut D normally seated on the top of a cross-head D pivoted on the sidearms D attached to a lever I, receiving a reciprocating movement, ashereinafter more fully described. The cross-head D is pressed on at theunder side by one end of a spring D coiled 011 the sleeve D and restingwith its other end on a collar D fixed at the lower end of the sleeve D,so that when the cross-head I) is moved downward the sleeve D, rod D,and central pounder O are moved in a like direction; but when thepounder is resisted in its downward movement by the clothes in thewashtub then the cross-head on its farther downward stroke compressesthe spring D without moving the rod D farther downward, so that thepounder yieldingly pounds the clothes. By the yielding construction forthe central pounder, as described, the operator is enabled to adjust thetension of the spring D to any desired degree by screwing the nut D" upor down on the sleeve, and the pounder C and rod D may be moved up ordown, according to the depth of the tub and the clothes therein byadjusting the rod 1) on the sleeve by the pin D. By having thecross-head pivoted in bearings carried by the lever I the rod is free tomove straight up and down irrespective of the swinging movement of thelever I.

The rod D extends loosely through an elongated opening in the lever I,(see Fig. 5,) and this lever is fnlcrumed on the rod F and levers I,also fnlcrumed on the said rod F are connected by links II with thecross-head H to impart a reciprocating movement to the side pounders 0 CThe levers I I are provided at their forward ends with elongated slots I1 of which the slot I is engaged by a crank-arm J, and the slot 1 isengaged by crank-arms J extending in opposite directions to thecrank-arm J, but all forming part of a crank-shaft J, mounted to turn insuitable hearings in the forward end of the swinging frame I A handle Jis secured on one outer end of the shaft J, so as to allow the operatorto turn said shaft J and cause the crank-arms J J to impart an upanddownswinging movement to the levers I I, but in such a manner that when thelevers I move upward the levers 1 swing downward, or vice versa. Fromthe foregoing it is evident that the swinging movement of the levers I Icauses an up-and-down sliding motion of the rod D and the centralpounder C and an up-and-down sliding movement of the cross-head H hub11, and support H, to-

gether with the rods G, carrying the pounders C and C In order to turnthe support II intermittently in addition to the up-and-down movementabove described, the following device is provided: On the support H issecured a ratchet-wheel K, concentric to the hub H and adapted to beengaged by a pull-pawlK, fnlcrumed on the arm L of the lever L,fulcrumed on the top of the cross-head H as is plainly indicated in Fig.2. The lever L is provided with an arm L loosely engaging an aperture inone of the guideways F so that when the cross-head H moves up and downthe said arm L causes a swinging of the lever L to actuate the pawl K,so that the latter turns the ratchet-wheel K, and with it the support Hand the pounders 0 C carried by said support H. A spring K presses thepawl K to hold the same in mesh with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel K.The ratchet- Wheel K is turned during the upstroke of the cross-head HThe operation is as follows: In order to place the tub B in position onthe bench A, it is first necessary to swing the frame F into theposition shown in Fig. 4, and when the tub is in position and theclothes to be washed are contained in said tub then the swinging frame Fis swung back to an active position, so that the pounders O O C extendin the tub. The operator now turns the handle J of the crank-shaft J toimpart an np-anddown reciprocating motion to the pounders G C 0 as abovedescribed, and also to turn the support II to move the pounders C Caround the central pounder O at the time the support II moves into anuppermost position. It is understood that when the pounders C 0 movedownward the support H is at the pcriod of rest in its intermittentturning movement. By the arrangement described the pounders C C 0 movein contact with the clothes, press and agitate the same, and cause thewater or soapsuds to circulate through the clothes, so as to properlywash the same, it being understood that a very strong agitation of thewater and clothes takes place, as the central pounder in moving downyieldingly holds the clothes at the middle of the tub, while at the sametime the side pounders C C move upward out of engagement with theclothes. During this upward movement the side pounders O 0 shiftposition by the turning of the support II, and when the pounders C Cmove downward in contact with the clothes, but to a different place fromthat they previously occupied, then the central pounder 0 moves upwardto reverse the agitating action of the pounders on the clothes andwater. When the clothes have been washed, then the frame F and thepounders are swung upward into the position shown in Fig. 4, so as togive convenient access to the washed clothes in the tub. The clothes arenow wrung from the tub B by a suitable wringer into a basket or otherreceptacle, the said wringer being carried by a frame N, removablyattached to the wash bench A. (See Fig. 4.)

Having thus fully described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. Awashing-machine havinga pounder, a rodcarrying the said pounder, a sleeve adjustable on the said rod, across-head, a lever, side arms connected with the lever and to which thecross-head is pivoted, a spring coiled on the said sleeve and engagingthe under side of the cross-head, and a nut on the sleeve for adjustingthe tension of the said spring, as set forth.

2. A washing-machine, comprising a central pounder and side pounderslocated on opposite sides of the central pounder, means for moving thecentral pounder and the side pounders vertically in opposite directions,

and means for intermittently turning the side pounders around thecentral pounder, substantially as shown and described.

3. A washing-machine, comprising a central pounder and side pounderslocated on opposite sides of the central pounder, means for moving thecentral pounder and the side pounders vertically in opposite directions,and means for intermittently turning the side pounders around thecentral pounder, said means comprising a ratchet-wheel fixed on asupport for the side pounders, a pawl for engagement with said ratchetwheel, and a crank-lever carrying said pawl and f nlcru med on the saidsupport, said crank-lever having an arm engaging a fixed. part of theframe, substantially as shown and described.

4:. A washing-machine, comprising a central pounder, side pounderslocated at opposite sides of the central pounder, a support carryingsaid side pounders, a cross-head in which said support is mounted toturn, a rod carrying said central pounder, levers connected by linkswith said cross-head and with said rod, and a crank-shaft havingcrankarms extending in opposite directions and connected with saidlevers, to impart an upand-down movement to said rod and said cross-headbut in opposite directions, substantially as shown and described.

5. A washing-machine, comprising a central pounder, side pounderslocated at opposite sides of the central pounder, a support carryingsaid side pounders, a cross-head in which said support is mounted toturn, a rod carrying said central pounder, levers connected by linkswith said cross-head and with said rod, a crank-shaft having crank-armsextending in opposite directions and connected with said levers toimpart an up-and-down movement to said rod and said cross-head but inopposite directions, a ratchet-wheel on said support, a pawl in meshwith said ratchetwheel, and a lever carrying said pawl, and having anarm engaging a fixed part of the frame, as set forth.

6. A washing-machine, comprising a cen-- tral pounder, side pounders, asupport in which the side pounders are fitted to slide vertically, meansfor moving the central pounder and the support for the side poundersvertically but in opposite directions, and means for intermittentlyturning the said support, substantially as set forth.

7. A washing-machine, comprising a frame mounted to swing, a pluralityof pounders carried by said frame, one of which is arranged centrallyand the others are located at the sides of the central pounder, a rodcarrying said central pounder, a tube fixed to the frame and throughwhich the said rod extends, a

support mounted to turn around the said tube and in which the sidepounders have a vertical reciprocating movement, means for moving thesaid rod and said support vertically but in opposite directions, andmeans for intermittently turning the said support, substantially asdescribed.

8. Awashing-machine, comprising a frame provided with a cross-bar, atube secured to the cross-bar, a central pounder, a rod extendingthrough said tube and carrying the central pounder, side pounders, asupport carrying said side pounders and provided with a hub arrangedconcentric to the said tube, a cross-head having guided verticalmovement and in which the said hubis mounted to turn, means for movingthe said cross-head and the rod carrying the central pounder vertically,and means for intermittently turning the support carrying the sidepounders, substantially as set forth.

9. A washingmachine, comprising a central pounder, side pounders, asupport carrying said side pounders, a cross-head having verticalmovement and in which said support is mounted to turn, a rod carryingsaid central pounder, levers fulcrumed at one end and provided withelongated slots at the other end, connections between the said leversand the cross-head and rod, a crank-shaft having crank-arms engaging theelongated slots in the levers, to impart an up-and-down move ment tosaid rod and said cross-head, and means actuated by the movement of thecrosshead for intermittently turning the support carrying the sidepounders, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY F. STAGGS.

h ROBT. H. 2 STAGGS.

mark Witnesses:

W. M. LEE, HUGH MOCLELLAN.

